Welcome to Gaia! ::

Pardon the name, I couldn't think of anything. Besides its not the name but the story. Okay, this is obviously a do what you want in the boundaries of others fun. Hopefully you will read this first before creating your character.

The city of Eros, is where you will start and it is here we most likely will spend our time. But you can go beyond Eros and its surrounding country if you want. I created Eros as a base for starting.

First, there is the Skal River its about the equivalent of the Mississippi River. Surrounding it on both sides is a forest made of pines trees.

East of the Skal River are the Flat-Lands miles of land completely vacant, and void of life.

East of the Flat-Lands is Eros, the city of Iron.

East of Eros are miles of mountain ranges, with a large pathway cut directly in the middle, called the Vale of Tears

(I hope you will come to understand the land, and perhaps make your own beyond these places.)

Eros is named the city of Iron for its copious amounts of iron mines in the mountains just East of the city. Eros is ruled by a Lord and his house, there are smaller governing houses with Eros as well.

As you make your way East to the city you will find that, there are small farms and then a shady place called Out-Town then as you make your way further East though Out-Town you will come before the walls of Eros. The market district is what you will first see, then the residential areas. As well as a few parks, however small they may be. The royal house lives on a hill North-East in the city.

I hope you understand that, if not then you could get out a piece of paper and draw what I've explained. Thats what I did.

Eros has its own city guard, as well as those sworn to a house. heres some tips to understand better.
If your character is sly and sneaky and completely against the law. Then they might like Out-Town.
If your character doesn't care much for the law, and prefers to live morally, then Eros west ward, is the place for you.
If your character abides by the rules and wants the richer things in life. Eros Jade district is for you.
Other then that you can totally run off and do what you want.

Now before you start the rp, check out the character sheet. It will explain more.

-Nickandros

They say leaving is one of the hardest things you can do to your family. For Nickandros, it was the easiest. The hardest thing was coming home. The sun had done its daily setting, and Nickandros envied its willpower to come and go everyday. Something he could not do. A skin tight black as pitch leather hauberk protected his body, and kept him out of sight, as he slipped through Out-Town. A hood sewed into the hauberk gave his eyes shelter as well. Even the hilt of his cutlass was black leather. It was necessary for Nickandros to dress in this attire, his whole life has been devoted to the shadows.
He despised his father for the abuse, and his mother for letting it happen. And now that Nickandros had taken his leave, it was his darling sister who was forced to take the abuse. Nickandros would never let him hurt her the way he hurt him. He left the house at only four-teen, its been three years since. He was not looking forward to running into his father. The night was rather quiet, and the moon rather bright. If Nickandros found out that his father laid even one finger on her, he's cut off his hand.
The wagon where he had once called home on the poverty stricken streets of Out-Town was now before him, being careful not to wake his father or mother, Nickandros called his sisters name in a whisper.
"Judith.......Judith"
She stirred out of sleep,"Nick?" she rubbed her heavy eyes.
"Judith, come outside" Nickandros stepped away from the wagon.
Not long after Judith had found her way to his arms.
"I knew you'd come back, I knew you would keep your promise" Judith tried to keep her tears at bay.
"My Stag, you've grown so much...." Nickandros placed his hand on her head, she smiled.
When Nickandros saw Judith last, she had been only ten, now she was thirteen. And growing in to a woman. He could barely believe it.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Nick" she replied.
Nickandros wasn't satisfied, "You sure? if he did anything, I'd gut him, just for you Judith" he meant it.
"I'm older now Nick, I can take a lot more then threats"
"So he's been threatening you?"
"Yes, but...but when doesn't he? there just threats Nick. Besides I don't care about him. I want to hear about you."
"listen to me Judith, you can tell me. I'm hear to protect you now...." Nickandros knelt to her level, being tall can have its disadvantages. "Has he done anything to you?"
Judith scowled, "No"
"I need-"
"I said no, Nick. I dont want to talk about him!" they were still whispering, but that almost broke it.
Judith wore plain cotton pants and a shirt to match, her hair was a dark brown like Nickandros's, even though it was hard to tell in the dark.
She continued, "You can take me away now...cant you?"
Nickandros would give anything to take her away...anything. But the truth was, he could hardly afford to live himself. He couldn't care for a thirteen year old.
"Judith I will all ways be around to protect you, no mat-"
"That means no" she stared into his hazel eyes
"I can't Judith-"
"You cant or you wont"
"I tried to be somebody, I tried to get some money. But its harder then it looks."
"I don't care about the money, I just want to live with you"
"Don't you understand Judith? without money I cant afford to feed you"
"I could steal"
"No. Never"
"You do, you do it all the time!" Judith folded her arms
"I don't want you to be me, Judith"
a moment of silence and sounds of distant crickets.
"Your no better then Father, you promise me one thing. Then throw it in my face"
Nickandros became full of furry, he grabbed his sister by the shoulders, and glared at her.
"Never." He said, "Never compare me to that man"
another wave of silence.
"Nick...your hurting me"
Nickandros came back to reality, and released her, "I'm sorry, Judith. But you have to underst-"
"I do brother" she smiled once again
"This is the last time I leave you Judith, next time I come back. I'll take you far far away from Out-Town. And then It can just be me and you"
She looked to her feet, "Promise....."
"I Promise....here" Nickandros held out his hand, and Judith opened her palm. He dropped a small dagger into it.
"Next time he threatens you, threaten him back" He smiled. and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll make a name for myself sister, so listen closely to the rumors"
"Nick....."
He was all ears.
"Be safe....."
He replied with a smile, and trailed off.
Was he scared? yes, but only for her. Nickandros had raised her once his mother gave up trying, and he took all the punishment and pain for her. This was no place for Judith to live. If it took Nickandros his life to give her a good one.
He would do it.

-Nickandros

Thieving no longer paved the way to riches, mainly due to poverty. Point being, nobody had anything worth stealing. If Nickandros wanted to become something, then it would require a lot more then basic crime. With the pandemonium all around in the market district, Nickandros had made his way to a rickety old door. Which in turn led down a flight of stairs. Since his meeting with his sister, Judith, Nickandros made the choice of ridding himself of all the black leather. Since he walked in the day instead of the night, he had to make the hard decision of selling his hard earned leather for basic cloth and rags. However he couldn't bare to let his cutlass go, after all, he could always use a weapon.
Down each step the sounds of broken noses and shattered shins grew. The intimidating cries of men and woman, who had placed all their pocket money on this fight, came like the waves of an ocean.
Nickandros was only seventeen, but his height gave him great reach on any opponent.
as he reached the last step to another rickety door, he paused.
' Turn back Nick ' he told himself, ' Your not a bloody fighter, you'll get killed '
that voice was silenced by another wave of roars from the crowed.
Nickandros tensed, took a deep breath and opened the door. Immediately the betters cheered and sent Nickandros's heart racing. He couldn't see the two fighters through the mob of towns folk, save for the crown of the victor. a bald head. Thats all.
Wasting no time, Nickandros circled around the crowed looking for the door with the fist above it, sure enough he came across such a door. He didn't expect the people here to be friendly, but when he opened the door he didn't expect to be man handled and brought to his knees.
" Get off of me c**k sucker!! " Nickandros didn't have enough time to see his attacker, only to curse as the grip around his arm and neck tightened.
A cool, and calm voice wafted to his hears. Which made Ncikandros relax, and the grip mitigate.
" You'll need more skills then that, if you want to join my ring " the voice stated.
" Who said I wanted to join? " Nickandros replied.
" Why else would you be here? '
Eventually the grip was no more and Nickandros rubbed his neck, he spotted the man with the soothing voice and met his eyes.
Long sliver hair, sharp jaw line, gaunt features, and a cloth wrapped around his eyes. Could he see? and was just wearing that for show, or was he really blind. Nickandros had better things to worry about. The ring master was also embellished in silk, set in front of a large oak table. This was no ring master, this was a eunuch. Nickandros went to stand when the ring master shot up from his seat.
" Kneel boy! "
Nickandros froze at the shock of his voice.
He continued, " This is my house, and as such you obey my rules. Outside I am nothing, but here, I am the ring master. I control the fights. I control the coin. I control you. "
He walked around his oak table and came before Nickandros.
" Good, you stay silent when when being spoken to. You'll learn much by doing that here. Now tell me, whats your name?"
" Thats not up for discussion, I'm here to fight. Thats all "
" You want to hide your name. Reasonable for a street rat, dont want your family to find you perhaps. You dont wish for your name to bring you disgrace before you even begin your career."
Nickandros would rather remain silent then indulge this freak.
" Very well, I don't need your name. But a good title will make you popular among the common folk."
" I just want to fight. I don't need a stage name. "
The ring master gave an expression as if he was being stuck with a spear and roasted on an open fire.
" Everyone has a name in the Knuckles club, even if you never live up to your title. Thats how you get recognized boy, through a title. Like Galia's Saint, you shall be thrust into conflict and given a choice to fight, choose to cower and you will be torn from history. Another faceless name in the history books. "
The ring master began pacing back and forth the room.
" Or will you stand, and challenge your enemies, and enter combat. "
Nickandros grew tired of this man's idle chat. He rose to his feet despite the ring master's scowl.
"I have little time to ramble, ring master, I am here to win some bloody coin. Not listen to your philosophy!"
A steady silence, as if harsh words did not exist.
The ring master took his seat, and folded his hands.
" Pay the fee, and step into the ring. No weapons of any kind. "
"I'm fighting now...."
" Your impatient, need to learn a bit. I'm sure our champion can use a warm up."
And just like that Nickandros was facing the best fist fighter in all of the Market district.